Tuesday, 24 January 2017

John Spillane - Monday, Feb 6, 2017

Perennial BAG favourite, John Spillane returns to kick off 2017's BAG gigs in Mick Murphy's, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, on Monday, February 6th. Unusually, John wasn't with us in 2016, so it's great to welcome him back - he's played Ballymore pretty much every year for the past 20 years. Doors open at 8:30pm for a 9pm show. Admission is €15.

John Spillane is a musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet, dreamer – a canvass filled with color and brilliance. His music transports the listener; his live performance captivates the audience. In a world filled with strife and upheaval, a time-out with John Spillane is enough to ease the load a bit on anyone lucky enough to bask in his light. The man and his music are pure magic.

What makes John special is that he is an artist who knows how to deliver all that he has to offer to anyone of any age, male or female, no matter the musical preference. Place him in the genre of folk, acoustic, traditional, world or pop – that’s fine with John. He’s a man who is very comfortable in his skin. Whether performing solo with guitar, with gentle accompaniment or with full band before 10, 10,000 or 100,000, John entertains, charms, and mesmerizes.

John is a native of Cork, the County he lovingly describes as “the centre of the universe”, and it has been a huge creative influence on him. Vocally, he is quite unique with an almost sean nós-like element in his singing and he is said to have a voice “full of honesty, commitment and sensitivity”.

Two-time Meteor award winner, John is one of the most accomplished songwriters in Ireland today. Among those who have covered his songs are Christy Moore, Sharon Shannon, Sean Keane, to name a few from the home stage, and Blues/Roots artiste, Brooks Williams, from the USA. He performs to audiences large and small everywhere.

LINKS

About Me

BAG - Ballymore Acoustic Gigs -takes its name from the village of Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, where live Roots Music gigs have been hosted for over 20 years, featuring the best of Irish and overseas singer/songwriters and musicians. It's current home in the village is the Stage Inn (Mick Murphy's)- a small traditional country pub run by Phil & Sean Murphy.
Up until his untimely passing in 2010, the much respected Larry Roddy ran the gig as part of a circuit of venues throughout the country into which he booked some of the finest quality musicians. The Ballymore gig has a tradition of being a listening room; performers are afforded the best of order and respect during their performance. Gigs generally take place on Monday nights at 8:30pm.